Railway-crossing guard



- Nov. 20, 1928. 1,692,184

F. P. MILLER RA-ILWAY CROSSING GUARD File d Oct 29,1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5Nov. 20, 1928. I "1,692,184

Y F.P.MILLER RAILWAY CROS SING GUARD j? zfen for. Fran]? ft /f: Ile rPatented Nov. 2@, 1928.

ii STATES PA'lEF-l'l OFFICE.

FRANK P. MILLER, 'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY-CROSSING GUARD.

Application filed October 29, 1926. Serial No. 144,949.

matically lowered by mechanism set in mo tion by a train approachingthat crossing, and automatically raised when the train is passing or haspassed the crossing.

The essence ot the present invention resides in a crossing guardcomprising gates or the like, auton'iatically lowered and raised,preferably while simultaneously showing red danger lights and ringinggongs.

Among the advantages of the present invention may be set forth thesimplicity of the device from the standpoint of installation andmaintenance, its absolute certainty and accuracy in operation, theeconomy in the use of an automatically operated railway crossing guardand the elimination or" the necessity of manual manipulation Locom riveengines both steam and electrically driven, as well as other types ofdriving elements of the present day are equipped with electricgenerators functioned for lighting the train and for other purposes. Inlocomotive engines of the steam type, these generators are functionedunder the control or a manually operable valve by steam generatedtherein.

I propose to connect a contacting eleto a suitable part of the drivingelelllclli. ring current through a lead wire from said generator. Apredetermined distance trout a grade crossing for instance, a mile moreor less, a third or auxiliary rail may he laid down with which thecontact element makes contact. This auxiliary or third rail at a pointadjacent the crossing is connected in circuit with a motor functioningto automatically lower the gates and with magnetic coils functioningwhen energized to operate a clutch mechanism to keep the gates inlowered position.

As one of the additional features of the invention, after the gate hasbeen. lowered a predetermined distance, for instance, when it isparallel to the ground a switch is automaticallv ope atcd to break thecircuit and d' ontinue the flow of current to the motor which arrestsfurther rotation of the instrun'ientality operated by the motor forlowering the gate, with the result that the gate is not moved downwardlyany further.

The gate is maintained in this lowered position by means of a clutcharrangement actuated by the energizing of said magnetic coils, whichlatter are simultaneously energized by the same source of current whichoperates the motor, it being emphasized that the switch which breaks thecircuit and shuts off current to the motor does not in any way actuatethe magnetic coils. Thus current is still flowing through the magneticcoils keeping the gate in lowered position while the contact el mentcarried by the engine or other driving element is making contact withthe surface of the third rail. Immediately adjacent the crossing theauxiliary or third rail terminates and as the engine 1'?1"l1GS thecrossing, the contact element rides off the end of the rail and since nomore current is passing through the shoe to the rail from the generatorcarried by the engine as heretotore described, the magnetic coils aredeenergized, thus permitting an arm held under spring tension to actuatethe clutch mechanism to disengage the instrumentality which lowered thegate.

hen this instrumentality is thus disengaged, a counter weight on the endof the gate causes the gate to be moved upwardly to its raised position.

In the rotation of the clutch mechanism, simultaneously with the movingof the gate to raised position, a projection having cooperativeengagcment with the clutch mechanism will automatically acutate theswitch and restore it to its normal position to close the circuit, sothat when the mechanism is again operated, the switch is in contact andin closed circuit.

Simultaneously with the automatic lowering of the gate as abovedescribed, electric current will be supplied to a danger light orlights, as well as to a warning gong, thus complying with all publicsafety statutes.

In the drawings:

F 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, illustrating thecontact be tween the shoe and theauxiliary rail.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view,

partly in vertical section, illustrating in outline the mechanism forraising and lowering the gates.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view on a different angle fromFig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan View showing the circuit.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary diagrammatie view illustrating theswitch in normal position with the circuit closed.

Fig. 9 is a similar view illustrating the position of the knife andswitch when the gate has been lowered and the circuit broken.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, 1 designates as a whole alocomotive equipped with the generator 2. It is to be understood thatalthough I have shown a locomotive of the steam or oil burning type, theinvention is for use with engines operated entirely electrically or withcars which themselves are equipped with motors and control devices.These various types of engines and motor driven cars will be referred toin this specification as driving elements.

These driving elements 1 are adapted to ride over the rails 3 mounted oncross ties 4. A lead wire 5 may run from the genera tor 2 to a contactelement designated as a. whole 6 carried on a suitable supportingbracket attached to the lower part of the element 1 at any desiredpoint, as will be obvious.

This contact element 6 as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 may take the formof a shoe comprising the plate suspended from bracket 8 and connected bymeans of bolts 9, coil springs 10 being inserted between the plates 7and 8. The lead wire 5 may have a direct connection with the railcontacting element 11. A crossing is designated as a whole at 12. From apoint which may vary from one to two miles to the crossing, to bepredetermined depending on the speed of the train approaching thecrossing, there is laid on the ties 4 and preferably outside the outerrail 3, an auxiliary or third rail 13. As shown more particularly inFig. 3, the contact element 11 carried by the shoe is adapted to ride onthe surface of the third or auxiliary rail 13. An electric circuit ismade by connecting a lead wire 14 to the end of the third rail 13terminating immediately adjacent the crossing, permitting cur rent toflow from generator 2 through the line 5, element 11 and rail 13 intolead wire 14. This lead wire 14 is hooked up in electric circuit showndiagrammatically in Fg. 7 in which circuit is included a hell or gong15, danger lights 16 and 17, motor 18, switch 19 and magnetic coils 20.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6, the motor may drive a shaft21 on which is mounted the worm 22. This worm may be adapted to meshwith the worm gear tion of which will be hereinafter more particularlydescribed.

The arrangement such that current flowing through the lead wire 14,passes through motor 18 to drive shaft 19 and worms 22 and 24.Simultaneously, the magnetic coils 20 will be energized, causing an arm25 pivoted at 26 to rock against the tension of a coil spring 27anchored to a wall of the housing 23. The opposite end of the pivotedarm 25 may ride in a flanged track 29 carried by shaft 24, which latteris also provided with a similar flanged track 30 adjacent'the track 29.The outer ends of hell crank levers 31 pivoted 32 are adapted to ride inthe track 30, the opposite ends of these levers may be provided withpins 33. The bell crank levers 31 are pivoted intermediate their lengthat 34 on the surface of a flange 35 forming part of a sleeve 36 whichlatter is keyed to shaft 24. is journalled in bearings in the housing 28and on an end projecting outside of the housing has fixedly connectedthereto a gate or crossing guard 37.

The arrangement is such that the energizing of the magnetic coils 2Oattracts an end of arm 25, which, rocking on its pivot 26, causes theother end to force the flanged tracks 29 and 30, which are looselymounted on shaft 24 outwardly. The ends of levers 31 riding in theflanged track 30 will be moved outwardly and, rocking on the pins 34,will move the pins 33 into engagement with a recess in the face of theworm gear, 23, thus rotation of the worm gear 23 by motor 18 will betransmitted to the shaft- 24-, which rotation will lower the gates 37.

As another feature of the present invention, after the gates havebeen'lowered to a predetermined position, for instance, at a pointsubstantially parallel with the-ground, mechanism is provided forautomatically preventing further downward movement'of said gate, whichmechanism will be now described. A flange 38 fixedly connected to sleeve36, has a pin 39 projecting from its surface. Normally the knife 40 ofswitch 19 is making contact to complete a circuit, requiring only thetransmission of current to the motor to close the circuit and rotate theworm gear 23 as shown in Fig. 8. After the gate has been lowered to apredetermined position, the pin 39 will have been moved around. to thepoint where it contacts the knife 40 and further rotation thereof forcessaid knife 40 away from contact with switch 19 shown in Fig. 9 to closethe circuit and prevent further downward movement of the gates 37. hisknife 40 may beheld against the tension of the coil spring 40. It is toThe shaft 24 be noted that this breaking of contact by release of theswitch does not 111 any way ailect'the inechanlsm set in motion by the1nagnetic coils as long as the contact element 6 is making contact withthe third rail 13. When knife 40 is released from engagement with theswitch 19, the circuit broken and the flow of current of the motor isinterrupted. Thi. stops rotation of shaft 21 and worm gear The continuedenergization of the magnetic coils 20 by the continued contact of theelement 6 with the third rail 13 will keepthe in their lowered positionjust as long as the contact element 6 makes contact with the third rail.1V hile the element 1 is passing the crossing, or after it has passedthe crossing, the element 6 rides off the third rail 13, thusdc-energiZi-ng the magnetic coils 20.

This permits the arm 25 under tension of the spring 27 to be restored tonormal position, which in turn sets in motion mechanism including theflanged tracks 29 and SO and the bell crank levers 31 to permitdisengagement of the pins 33 from engageme with. the worm gear 23. Whenthese pins are disei'igaged, counter weights all on the ends of thegates 37 will cause said to be moved upwardly tonormal oed'positionindicated in dotted lines in 1 and 4.

Simultaneously with this upward movement, the flange 38 being fixedlyconnected to the sleeve 36 is moving around carrying the pin 39 with it.lVhen the pin 39 moves a vay from contact with the knife 40 of switch19, said kni'l e may be again restored to contact with the switch 19under the tension of the coil spring 40. i

It is to be understood that the diagrams illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9are merely ill-ustrative of one method or" manipulating the swi ch, andthe present invention contemplates any obvious method of accomplisln thepurpose.

Thus, it will be found that the gates are automatically raised and themechanism has been restored to normal position to be automaticallyactuated by another approaching train, it being noted that the knife &-0has been restored. to engagement with the switch 19, so that contactwith the element 6 with the third rail may close the circuit, and permitthe motor 18 to be placed in operation.

As another feature of the present invention, it for any reason theelement 1 should stop on the area within a mile, more or less, from thecrossing with the element in contact with the third rail, it may bedesirable to permit the gates to be raised. This may be easilyaccomplished by the manipulation of obvious mechanism by the operator ofthe element 1 for breaking contact between the element 6 and the thirdrail during the time the en 'ine is stopped. hen the element 1 is againstarted, the element 6 may be brought again into'contact either aut matically with the starting of the element 1 or by means of manualmanipulation.

The housing 28 is so constructed that it permits ready access to theinterior for the purpose of inspection, maintenance and repair.

As another feature oi the present inven tion, a single motor 18 and theaccompanying mechanism may be utilized to raise and lower gates onopposite sides of the crossing.

This may 'beaccomplished by providing a pulley 1:2 mounted on shaft 241having cooperative engagement with a cable l3 which through anarrangement of pulley wheels or shibs transmits movement to the pulleywheel 4-5, thus movement of the mechanism on one side oi the crossingmay be transmitted to the pulley wheel and the mechanism associatedtherewith for automatically lowe ,4 site side of the. crossing.

Each of the gates may carr a stopsignal 46,

which may comprise a plate with. the letters cut out to permit a dangerlight to shine ethrough, electric currentto operate said t beingtransmitted indicated in the rammatic circuit illustrated in Fig. 7. hespeed with which the gates are lowis so correlated thatpersons orvehicles over the crossing during the time ha he mechanism is beingplaced in operai by the train approaching the crossing, will have anopportunity to get to the other side before the gates have Completelylowered.

It is obvious that the present invention also contemplates the provisionof auxiliary means functioned in the same manner for giving warning bymeans of lights or gongs a predetermined time in advance of the lowering 01 the gates to comply with the requirements of public safetystatutes.

The mechanism is certain and accurate in its operation, and economicalto install and maintain. E2: mes of weather will in no way affect itsoperation. In addition to this, the cost of installation will be smallcompared to its life saving, accident preventing value, and its economyin eliminating the necessity for manual guarding of a crossing.

I claim as my invention:

1. A crossing guard comprising in combination. a movable gate, means forautomatically actuating said gate comprising an auxiliary rail and anelectric motor, electric current connections between said rail andmotor, electric current connections between said rail and a source ofcurrent moving toward said gate, a control switch for said motor, clutchmechanism, electric current connections between said rail and saidclutch n'ieehanism, an electromagnet, a connection between the magnetand clutch mechanism, means operg and raising the gate on the oppo- Innable by actuation of the clutch mechanism to automatically break theswitch contact to the motor whereby further downward movement of saidgate is automatically arrested after the gate has reached apredetermined lowered position, said clutch being held in engagementwith said motor by said electromagnet and released from such engagementonly when said magnet is deenergized by the breaking of contact betweensaid rail and said moving source of current to permit the gates to rise.

2. A crossing guard comprising in combination, a movable gate and acounter weight therefor, means for automatically actuating said gatecomprising an auxiliary rail, an

electric motor and clutch mechanism connected in electric circuit,electric current connetions between said auxilary rail and a source ofcurrent moving toward said gate, a control switch for said motor, anelectro magnet, a connection between the magnet and clutch mechanism,means operable by actuation of the clutch mechanism to automaticallybreak contact between the switch and motor, whereby further downwardmovement of said gate is automatically arrested after the gate hasreached a predetermined lowered position, said gate being kept in thatlowered position by the electric current connection between the rail andthe clutch mechanism and raised through the (lB-GDGT- gization of themagnet by its counterweight only when the clutch mechanism is actuatedby the breaking of contact between said rail and the moving source ofcurrent.

3. A crossing guard comprising in combination a movable gate, means forautomatically actuating said gate, comprising an auxiliary rail, anelectric motor, an electromagnet, and a control switch for said motorconnected in electric circuit, electric current connections between saidauxilary rail and a source of current moving toward said gate,

clutch mechanism actuated by said electromagnet, means operable byactuation of the clutch mechanism to automatically break contact betweenthe switch and motor whereby further downward movement of said gate isautomatically arrested after the gate has reached a predeterminedlowered position, said clutch being held in engagement with said motorby said clectromagnet and re leased from such engagement only when saidmagnet is de-energized by the breaking of contact between said rail andsaid moving source of current to permit the gate to rise.

4:. A crossing guard comprising in combination a movable gate, a counterweight therefor, means for automatically actuating said gate, comprisingan auxiliary rail, an electric motor, an electromagnet, and a controlswitch for said motor connected in electric circuit, electric currentconnections between said auxiliary rail and a source of current movingtoward said gate, clutch mechanism actuated by said electromagnet, andmeans operable by actuation of the clutch mechanism to automaticallybreak contact between the switch and motor whereby further downwardmovement of said gate is automatically arrested after the gate hasreached a predetermined lowered position, said gate being kept inlowered position by electric current connection between therail and theclutch mechanism, and raised by its counter weight only when the magnetis de-energized by breaking of contact between it and said auxiliaryrail whereby said clutch mechanism is actuated.

5. A crossing guard comprising in combination a movable gate and acount-er weight therefor, means for automatically lowering said gatecomprising an auxiliary rail through which electric current passes whencontact is made with said rail, and a moving source of currentapproaching said gate, a motor, a switch therefor, and clutch mechanismconnected in electric circuit, said cluth mechanism actuable to breakcontact between the switch and motor to arrest further downward movementof said gate when the latter has reached a predetermined loweredposition, and said clutch mechanism released by the breaking of contactbetween said rail and said moving source of current to permit the gateto raise due to said counter weight.

6. A crossing guard comprising in combination a movable gate and acounter weight therefor, means for automatically lowering said gatecomprising an auxiliary rail through which electric current passes whencontact is made with said rail, and a moving source of currentapproaching said gate, a

motor, a switch therefor, and clutch mechanism connected in electriccircuit, said clutch mechanism actuable to breakcontact between theswitch and motor to arrest fur ther downward movement of said gate whenthe latter has reached a predetermined lowered position, and mechanismreleased by the breaking of contact between said rail and said movingsource of current to permit the gate to raise due to said counterweight, comprising an electromagnet interposed in the circuit andadapted to be respectively energized and de-energized to actuate theclutch mechanism by the making and breaking of contact between themoving source of power and said rail.

7. A crossing guard comprising in com:

bination a movable gate and a counter weight therefor, means forautomatically lowering said gate comprising an auxiliary rail throughwhich electric current passes when contact is made with said rail, and amoving source of current approaching said gate, a motor, a switchtherefor, and clutch mech anism connected in electric circuit, saidclutch mechanism aotuable to break contact between the swith and motorto arrest further downward movement of said gate when the latter hasreached a predetermined lowa ered position, and mechanism released bythe breaking of contact between said rail and said moving source ofcurrent to permit the gate to raise due to said counter weight,comprising an electromagnet interposed in the circuit and adapted to berespectively energized and de-energized to actuate the clutch mechanismby the making and break ing of contact between the moving source ofpower and said rail, danger signal warning gongs being connected incircuit, and simultaneously operated with the making of contact betweenthe rail and said moving source of current.

FRANK P. MILLER.

